Apparatus and method for gyroscopic steering

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for gyroscopic steering of a vehicle comprising a flywheel tiltable on its axis of rotation where tilting of the axis causes rotation of the vehicle. When applied to a car, the gyroscopic assembly further includes a steering system with wheels mounted on a tilted pivotable axis wherein rotation of the chassis of the car in one direction causes the wheels on that side of the car to move together and the wheels on the opposite side of the car to move apart, thereby causing the car to turn. The apparatus of the present invention further provides commutative delivery of power to the motor spinning the flywheel, thus allowing the flywheel to be rotated 360° without interference from wires.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toy vehicles, and more particularly,toy vehicles with a gyroscopic element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Remote control cars, and particularly remote control cars with agyroscopic element are well known. Typically, the car contains ahorizontally mounted flywheel with a vertical spin axis which is rotatedthrough a series of gears connected to the rear wheels.

There are also several types of cars with a gyroscopic element that arenot remote controlled. U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,067 and U.S. Pat. No.4,631,041 both describe friction driven toys, and U.S. Pat. No.4,556,396 describes the use of a “toy vehicle-projecting gun assembly”.U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,627 describes a remote control toy vehicle where therear wheels themselves act as the flywheels, and the steering isinitiated by a pair of motors separately connected to each rear wheel.When the vehicle wishes to turn, one of the motors speeds up one of therear wheels, rotating it faster than the other rear wheel, thus, turningthe car in the desired direction.

As well as remote control cars, there also exists remote controlmotorcycle toys which use a gyroscopic element to maintain the stabilityof the toy. U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,439 describes a remote controlledmotorcycle with a gyroscopic flywheel mounted between the two wheels andoperatively connected to the clutch, while U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,891describes a motorcycle with the flywheel located inside the rear wheel,spinning at a faster rate. Both of these flywheels have similar results,when the motorcycle leans during a turn, the flywheel assists inrighting the toy back to the upright position.

In all of these toy vehicles, the flywheel rotates around a fixed axiswithin the vehicle, thereby limiting the tricks and stunts the vehiclecan perform.

There remains a need for a toy vehicle which has further improvedstability, so that it can perform even more difficult stunts.

There also remains a need for a method of improved steering, through themovement of the gyroscopic flywheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present apparatus achieves all of the above stated needs, as will bedescribed below. The first main embodiment of the device comprises a toywith moveable parts. In this particular embodiment the toy is a vehicle,with at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel, a chassis, aflywheel having generally central positioning within the chassis, and aflywheel casing which houses the flywheel within the chassis. The axisof the flywheel casing is generally horizontal, along the width of thevehicle. The axis of the flywheel is connected to the flywheel casing,so as the casing rotates about its axis, the position of the flywheelaxis rotates as well. The casing axis and the flywheel axis are alwaysperpendicular to each other. Additionally, the flywheel casing iscommutated within the vehicle, allowing the casing to rotate a full 360degrees. To control the movement of the vehicle even more precisely, themass of the flywheel and flywheel casing should be greater than the massof the remainder of the vehicle. One way to accomplish this is to haveno sub-assembly housing the gyroscope. In the main embodiment of thevehicle, the chassis itself is the housing. This allows the vehicle tobe lighter.

Another main embodiment of the invention is the method of steering usingthe gyroscopic assembly. For this particular embodiment, the gyroscopeis being user to steer a remote controlled toy car, although gyroscopicsteering could be used for steering many other types of moveableobjects. Steering the remote controlled vehicle comprises the steps ofplacing a flywheel within a flywheel casing, placing the flywheel casinggenerally within the centre of the vehicle, spinning the flywheel withinthe casing, and rotating the casing so that the flywheel axis is at anangle which causes the vehicle to precess in the desired direction. Inthe main embodiment of the vehicle, where the vehicle is a car, therotating the flywheel axis to an angle which causes the vehicle toprecess causes a 45 degree cant in the front and rear axis of thewheels.

Other aspects and advantages of the device will become apparent from thefollowing Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment with theflywheel device being shown in the interior of the vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the flywheel device.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the interior of the vehicle.

FIG. 5 shows various movements of the flywheel axis and the flywheel andthe different vehicle precessions they produce.

FIG. 6 shows the vehicle being turned by the movement of the flywheeland its axis.

FIG. 7 shows various stunts the vehicle can perform.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of the flywheel and the flywheel casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a toy car viewing the method and apparatus of the presentinvention. Specifically, the present invention provides a toy with agyroscope 11 wherein the gyroscope 11 has the dual purpose of providingboth stability and for steering the vehicle.

Reference is made to FIG. 3. An exploded view is provided. A flywheel 30is rotated using a flywheel motor 18. Flywheel motor 18 includes a firstgear 43 which in turn rotates a gear 45 on flywheel axis 44. Flywheelaxis 44 is connected to flywheel 30, wherein rotation of flywheel gear45 causes rotation of flywheel 30. In the preferred embodiment, flywheel30 comprises a plastic inner surface with a metal ring on the outside.This provides an increased weight for flywheel 30 while maintaininglower manufacturing costs for the remainder of the flywheel.

Flywheel 30 is rotationally connected within flywheel casing 32.Flywheel casing 32 provides a receptacle 33 in which flywheel axis 44rests, thereby providing restricted lateral motion while allowingrotation.

A gyro gear 40 is connected to flywheel casing 32 and provides theability to rotate flywheel axis 44. Gyro gear 40 is in turn rotatedusing a gyro motor 16. Various gears may be implemented between gyromotor 16 and gyro gear 40, and in a preferred embodiment an auger gear39 is used to rotate gyro gear 40.

Casing 32 is further axially connected to the chassis of a vehiclethrough the use of an axial pin 52 which fits into a receptacle 54within bracket 56. Pin 52 allows gyroscope 11 to axially rotate. Thiscan be seen in more detail in FIG. 8.

Electrical connection to flywheel motor 18 is provided through wires 58and 60. Flywheel motor 18 is preferably DC motor and the supply of powerto this type of motor is well known.

In a preferred embodiment, wires 58 and 60 are connected to pins 52. Inthis preferred embodiment, pins 52 are conductive and supply wires 62and 64 include commutative ends 66 and 68 respectively. Commutative ends66 and 68 fit over pins 52 and thus allow power to be commutated toflywheel motor 18. This provides the advantage that gyro 11 may berotated fully without wires interfering with the rotation or wireslimiting the amount of rotation permissible.

Wires 62 and 64 provide power from a power source, which in a preferredembodiment is a battery pack 36 as seen in FIG. 2.

Based on the above, the gyroscopic motor of the present inventionprovides a flywheel whose axis of rotation may be rotated 360° alongpins 52, thereby providing both stabilizing forces and rotational forceson any vehicle that gyroscope 11 is mounted.

In one embodiment the gyroscope of the present invention is mountedwithin a toy car. Vehicle 10 includes a chassis 20, a front axle 22,front wheels 24, rear axle 26, and rear wheels 28. In order toaccommodate gyroscopic steering, front axle 22 is connected to chassis20 using an angled pivot axle 23. Angled pivot axle 23 is rotationallyconnected at its ends to chassis 20 wherein the front pivot point ishigher than the rear pivot point. In this way wheels 24 move up and backor down and forward.

Similarly, rear wheels 28 are connected to axle 26 which is in turnconnected to the chassis using a pivot axle 27. Pivot axle 27 isrotatably connected higher at rearward end and lower at the forward endof axle 27 and allows rear wheels 28 to tilt upwards when moved forwardand downward when moved rearwardly.

The connection of wheels 24 and 28 using pivotal axes 23 and 27 providesthe advantage that when rotational force is applied to chassis 20causing the left side of vehicle 10 to go down, the pivot axes providethat the left front wheel 24 and left rear wheel 28 move closer togetherand that the right front wheel 24 and right rear wheel 28 move fartherapart thereby providing the vehicle with the ability to turn left.Similarly, when a rotational force is applied to the vehicle causing theright side of the vehicle to move downwards, the right front wheel 24and right rear wheel 28 move closer together and the left front wheel 24and left rear wheel 28 move farther apart, thereby causing the vehicleto move right.

Rear wheel 28 in a preferred embodiment is driven through drive motor14, which is located along axle 26. In a preferred embodiment, drivemotor 14 is a DC motor and such motors are well known to those skilledin the art.

Vehicle 10 is preferably remote controlled. As illustrated in FIG. 2,remote control 12 provides a radio signal which is received by anantenna on vehicle 10. A circuit board 34 processes this signal and,based on the signal, controls drive motor 14 and gyro motor 16.

Drive motor 14 allows vehicle 10 to move forward or backward dependingon the rotation of motor 14. Gyro motor 16 causes gyro 11 to rotatealong the axis of pins 52. As one skilled in the art will appreciate,the rotation of gyroscope 11 causes angular motion on vehicle 10.Reference is now made to FIG. 5.

As will be seen in FIG. 5, when flywheel 30 is horizontally orientedwith relation to the vehicle 10, the rotational motion of flywheel 30 isresisted by the friction of wheels 24 and 28 and thus the vehicle willgo in a straight direction.

When flywheel 30 is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane, therotational motion of flywheel 30 however causes vehicle 20 to rotate.This is because vehicle 10 is preferably comprised of materials thatmake its weight comparable to flywheel 30, if not lighter than flywheel30.

If the rotational motion of flywheel 30 causes the right side of thevehicle to go down then this will cause the wheels on the right side ofthe vehicle to move closer together which causes the vehicle to turnright. Conversely, if the left side of the vehicle is caused to tiltdownwards, the left side wheels move closer together thus causing thevehicle to turn left.

FIG. 5 illustrates the forces caused by the tilting of flywheel 30 andFIG. 6 illustrates the turning of the vehicle based on these forces.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 illustrates the turning of avehicle based on movement of the flywheel. In FIG. 6, the flywheel isillustrated on the right side and the vehicle is illustrated on the leftside, wherein the movement of the flywheel as indicated by the arrows onthe flywheel corresponds with the action of the vehicle as illustratedin the left column and as shown by the arrows on the vehicle.

In the beginning configuration 601, flywheel 30 is rotating in aclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow on flywheel 30. As theaxis is not rotating, vehicle 10 does not have any rotational forcesacting on it and thus continues in a straight direction. Inconfiguration 602, flywheel 30 continues to rotate in a clockwisedirection. Axis 44 is tilted towards the front of the vehicle, i.e., thelower portion of flywheel 30 is tilted out of the page as illustrated byarrow 603 which causes a force towards the right of the vehicle asillustrated by arrow 604. The rightward force causes front axle 22 andrear axle 26 to move towards each other on the right side of the vehiclethereby allowing the vehicle to turn to the right.

Referring to configuration 610, axis 44 has stopped moving therebyeliminating the rightward force from configuration 602. This causes thebody of the vehicle to be stable and thereby travel in a straightdirection.

In configuration 615, axis 44 is moved towards the rear of the vehicleor, in other words, the upper portion of flywheel 30 is moved out of thepage as illustrated by arrow 617. This causes a leftward force asillustrated by arrow 619, thereby causing axles 22 and 26 to movetowards each other on the left side of the vehicle and allowing thevehicle to turn left.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7. The additional advantages of having aflywheel that can tilt along its rotational axis is the stunts which avehicle may perform based on this flywheel. For example, in FIG. 7 avehicle is shown going over a ramp. The rotation of the flywheel whilethe vehicle is in the air provides precession 50 which allows vehicle 10to rotate in the air. Similarly, rotation is illustrated on the groundwhen the vehicle's wheels are not touching the ground.

The method and apparatus of the present invention has been describedwith relation to a car. However, one skilled in the art will appreciatethat the use of gyroscope steering can be used with other toys orvehicles. Specifically, the use of this steering in a boat, motorcycle,plane, helicopter, or other vehicles is considered within the scope ofthe present invention. Further, toys which are not vehicles could alsobenefit from the rotation of the axis of a gyroscope.

The above invention has been described with relation to the preferredembodiment. However, the invention is not meant to be limited by theabove disclosure, and is only limited by the claims below.

1. A toy vehicle with a chassis and a driving means for the chassis, thetoy vehicle having an improved steering system comprising: a) a motorlocated within the chassis; b) a gyro assembly located within thechassis, the gyro assembly including: i) a housing; ii) a housing axisfixed to the chassis and aligned perpendicular to a drive direction ofsaid vehicle; iii) a gyro located within the housing; iv) a gyro motorlocated within the housing and drivingly coupled to the gyro, and v) agyro axis rigidly connected to the housing perpendicular to the housingaxis c) a plurality of gears connecting the motor to the gyro assembly;and d) turning means controlled by the movement of the gyro axis.
 2. Thetoy vehicle claimed in claim 1, wherein the mass of the gyro assembly isgreater than the mass of the remainder of the vehicle.
 3. The toyvehicle claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving means is a drive motor.4. The toy vehicle claimed in claim 1, wherein the gyro assembly iscommutated, thereby allowing the housing to rotate 360 degrees aroundthe housing axis.
 5. The toy vehicle claimed in claim 1, wherein the toyis a wheeled toy which includes a front axle and a rear axle connectedto a front and rear ends respectively, and at least one front wheelattached to the front axle and at least one back wheel attached to therear axle.
 6. The toy vehicle claimed in claim 5, wherein the turningmeans of the wheeled toy includes a front and rear pivot axle attachedperpendicularly to the front and rear axle respectively, said front andrear pivot axles being rotatably mounted at an angle to said chassis. 7.The toy vehicle claimed in claim 1, wherein the toy is a boat.
 8. Thetoy vehicle claimed in claim 7, wherein the turning means is a rudder.9. The toy vehicle claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor and the drivingmeans are controlled by a hand-held remote.
 10. The toy vehicle claimedin claim 9, wherein the hand-held remote controls the motor and drivingmeans by a radio signal;
 11. A gyro assembly for a toy, the assemblycomprising: a) a housing having a fixed housing axis; b) a gyro locatedwithin the housing; c) a gyro motor located within the housing anddrivingly coupled to the gyro; d) a gyro axis rigidly connected to thehousing perpendicular to the housing axis; and e) a gyro gear fortilting said housing about said housing axis.
 12. The gyro assemblyclaimed in claim 11, wherein the housing may rotate 360 degrees aroundthe housing axis.
 13. The gyro assembly claimed in claim 11, whereinsaid housing further includes pins on said housing axis.
 14. The gyroassembly claimed in claim 13, wherein said pins are conductive.
 15. Thegyro assembly claimed in claim 14, wherein said gyro motor iselectrically connected to said pins and power is commutated to said pinsfrom a power source.
 16. A method of steering a vehicle, said vehiclehaving a gyro assembly with a housing, a housing axis fixed within thevehicle and aligned perpendicular to a drive direction of the vehicle, agyro located within the housing, said gyro being rotated by a gyromotor, and having an axis connected to the housing perpendicular to thehousing axis, said method comprising the steps of: a) rotating thehousing along said housing axis in a first direction when a right turnis desired; b) rotating the housing along said housing axis in a seconddirection when a left turn is desired; c) leaving the housing axisstationary when it is desired that the vehicle proceed in a straightdirection, wherein rotation of the housing axis causes the vehicle toprecess in a desired direction.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein saidhousing axis is rotated through a motor.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein said motor is controlled by a wireless means.
 19. The method ofclaim 16, wherein power to said gyro motor is commutated, therebyallowing said housing to rotate 360 degrees around said housing axis.20. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle is a wheeled vehiclehaving a front and rear axle connected to a front and rear end of saidvehicle.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the wheeled toy includes afront and rear pivot axle attached perpendicularly to the front and rearaxle respectively, said front and rear pivot axles being rotatablymounted at an angle to said chassis said rotating steps causing saidvehicle to precess along said front and rear pivot axles.